Sanjeev Sanyal was Deutsche Bank’s Global Strategist and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. He is the author of The Indian Renaissance: India's Rise After a Thousand Years of Decline and Land of the Seven Rivers: A Brief History of India's Geography.

Comments

This is just a slow process of maturing of Indian democracy. Even before Modi took over, a federal minister A Raja belonging to a regional partner party was jailed for corruption, a first in Indian politics. Much before Vijay Mallya escaped arrest during Modi rule, another Industrialist Subrata Roy was jailed for cheating. Read more

Must be some reason why a space has been occupied by this article. While I remain ignorant of that reason - the point is lost apart exaggeration and misrepresentation that however do serve to highlight the apparent lawlessness of the Indian state. Before Modi. Or a privatized state. Things haven't changed given what create such privatized states. The rank and the riff-raff that contribute to that nightmarish scenario remain in the file they did. Or the Indian state would face a closure. States like Jharkhand & Bihar mark those characterstics as much as UP does. Family pension arrears go unpaid for years and instead of the families named here - the petty crime-terror outfits emerge. The author speaks of cases of corruption that seem like political witch-hunting rather than any initiative by the Indian PM Modi against crime and terror. Given the networks and the kinds that mark them remain in place - even if Bisterne by some electoral wins like Bihar presents with a Laloo-Nitish upswing that attempts swinging and hiding in Jharkhand too- as the petty crime-terror networks. Those networks run the Indian state at least in these few states. One doubts if it were different in other states - as the author notes and also misses. But then acknowledging that India is a privatized state running upon crime-terror is a small step in introspection. Moving from there is another ball game altogether. Blending these with my own notations to the Indian PMO? Must be a reason why this article is there, occupying some space. Perhaps because it at least lends to a sense of hope for its blighted reading populace and those aware of the distinctions between citizenship and crime-terror. Even if few. Or even is quite large - they obviously mark the areas outside of both state activities as well as jurisprudence. Of the spaces already ruled by its uncivil aspects. Unless largely schizophrenic. Read more

Of course, it is difficult in any Bourbon establishment to eradicate vested interests. In a way, Modi has done it in his really years.It suited him to decimate the Dynasty which ruled India for decades and also those who feasted with it. Sadly, Modi has nothing more to show in terms of major economic or strategic policy initiatives. He engages more in rhetoric than concrete programs. For a party (BJP) which claims to be nationalistic, his undue solicitude to foreign investment including that class called non-resident Indians is counter productive. The government has been losing successive elections and Modi does not seem to learn or change course. Read more

Sanjeev Sanyal has identified a key problem that holds India back, it's small and interconnected circle of elites. However, we are seeing this social bastion of chums gradually crumbling in almost all areas. Morecrecently the startup phenomenon has shown that innovation, global connectedness and talent matter more than who you know or where you come from. The paucity of capital and laws and policies that spawned huge conglomerates created and reinforced the elites and their political alter egos. The gradual demise of the oversize conglomerates over time as they are replaced by nimble and more focussed competitors will diffuse the power of the elites. We see that already in the political arena, where complex backward class combinations and arithmetic are slowly moving power to the masses. Read more

Sanjeev Sanyal maintains that since Narendra took office in May 2014, the world is seeing the "taming of India's elite." The prime minister was elected "on a promise to build a new India" - to ensure that its "entrenched elite" were no longer above the law. But will he be able to deliver - growth, skyscrapers, expressways, bullet trains, shopping malls etc. while closing the social and economic gaps between the rich and poor?Sanyal's "tiny elite" make up of "a couple of hundred extended families, totaling perhaps 4,000-5,000 people" of haughty dynasts, who "control the top echelons in every sphere of public life: politics, business, the media, and even Bollywood." He does not include India's middle class, which probably totals some 70 million. According to a government report, as much as - perhaps - 77% of the entire population live on 50 cents a day and struggle to see their lot improve. Modi exhorts a largely young supporters, who are upwardly mobile. In fact more than two-thirds of India's population is under the age of 35. There is a growing sense of discontent among them, who resent the old, corrupt establishment and seek to create a new political order, based on market economy. The author says Modi's government has been successful in dealing "blows to the old establishment," whose members have been able to enjoy perks and privileges, as well as to get away with impunity after committing crimes.However Modi also rubs shoulders with India's financial elite. While he was chief minister of Gujarat, he forged ties with the most prominent businessmen and billionaires, who began to pave his ascent to power. Other celebrities and Bollywood stars fell at his feet and praised him as India's saviour. He will not be able to rein in income inequality and address the country's grievances. According to a report, some 43% of all Indian children below the age of five are undernourished, and 48% stunted; nearly half of Indian women of childbearing age are anaemic, and more than half of all Indians still defecate in the open.That Modi's government has taken the Gandhis to court, does not necessarily mean that it combats graft and corruption. That "old elite can be investigated and questioned is /no doubt an/ undeniable progress in a country where they have long enjoyed impunity." Yet Sonia Gandhi and her son say Modi was using the legal battle as a vendetta against them, who had been accused of misusing party funds to illegally acquire real estate assets worth millions of dollars. Their shell company is said to control properties worth $300m. Modi had vowed a “Congress-free India” even before he crushed Rahul Gandhi in an election in 2014. Indeed, it "remains to be seen .... whether Modi is able to cement these gains." There is much bitterness among the elite in India and they may retain "the power to strike back at the first sign of weakness." Read more

Sanyal makes some interesting points about the power of the tiny elite. His conclusion that this elite is resilient is bang on. And the comments about challenges to this group while true cannot be attributed to Modi alone.

What the banks are doing like in the case Mallya is perhaps more structural and Modi if any would only be one of people due for credit. I would hesitate to read any boarder shift in the cases against Pachauri and the Gandhi family.

In conclusion I would say that while something which was taken for granted by this group is going away but . . . Read more

Sanjeev Sanyal appears to be one of the pseudo sycophantic breed of intellectuals of the regime. Wasted time reading this article. Very unlike Prosyn. He misses the careful creation and nurturing of the new elite that the regime indulges in, the mediocrity and bigotry that it promotes. Every example the writer quotes has a counter example to prove this hidden agenda of the government. Sanyal missed them all. Read more

Serious sexual harassment allegations have been leveled against R.K Pachouri, the head of the global climate change panel - you mentioned that- but did you discuss the disgraceful way we dealt with those charges? In spite of having detailed and open record of what he did, he could get away with it because he is powerful and has connections. So what has changed in India, Mr Sanyal? Read more

Methinks some one like Shashi-Tharoor would not seriously consider taming India's (racist) elite or print an opinion here.Principally because Indian business at the apex body cannot be transacted without them & their consent. It has been so for millenium; and unfortunately will continue to hold back modernization and governance of the subcontinent. Read more

As in so much else, instructive to compare Modi's attack on corruption in the economic and political elite to Xi's. Can a relatively open justice system in a weak state like India produce reform faster than a closed system in a strong state like China?

The unexpected trespass by a rank outsider on their hallowed turf has resulted in the award wapsi brouhaha coinciding with the Bihar elections. The sudden attacks on churches coinciding with the Delhi elections also happen to circumstantially reveal the hand of this cabal. The ideological moorings of this cabal has long been left of centre aligning themselves with the Congress thinking. Hence they were entitled to the trappings of power & pelf. The seemingly impregnable cabal were suddenly jolted from their comfort zone when a chaiwalla heading a right of centre party mauled their benefactor, Congress. Having feared the inevitable, these worthies sought to influence voting patterns by their insidious propaganda, but in vain. Upon ascension of power, this cabal swore to upset the applecart at every possible opportunity. Every passing day of Modi's governance is going to lead to further diminishing their trappings of power & influence, not to speak of monetary benefits being curtailed. Hence, the Govt. would be better served by not letting their guard down & instead maintaining sustained & relentless pressure to wear down & subjugate this elite decisively. An onerous & tough task but Modi deserves to be tested for his mettle & his famed tough guy demeanour. Read more

How true! One thing that has surely happened by Modi's coming to power is 'Articles' like these are seeing the light of the day! This never happened during the previous BJP rule! Probably cause some of them were 'elites' too! The notion of entitlement in the Political class has ruined this wonderful Country and guess it was started by Nehru, when he superseded Sardar Patel to become the first PM of India. The rot in the system started then. Read more

I wish the author named names of the elite who were tamed. the names he named pachauri and mallya, they are part of the elite the past 60 years? the only other thing is about gandhi's court case by subramanya swami. not sure how the modi govt can claim that as the case was filed when swami was not even part of bjp and he was going against gandhi's for time immemorial. Read more

Civilization always have coterie - witch hunting is perhaps a road to nowhere.What has to he questioned is the Economic Geography they bequeathed.Dynasty's tend to be propped up - true democracy needs No props.Despite nearly 500 billion dollars that flooded into India since 1991, the erstwhile First Families squandered.History rarely provides such opportunities - China milked the same global predicament to create AIIB and NDB.500 billion dollars that created 100 MegaCities would have created democratic wealth - and addressed the need for Big City Migration.By planting 100 'Singapores' - with world class infrastructure - India could have matched China's Infrastructure reach.Coterie - Brahmin, Yadav, Thakur, Bania et al - happens everywhere; the Caste system or Race system or Language system.Sectarianism cannot be condoned - so called Secular Democrats the worst culprits.But witch hunting may not be the answer - the transformation of 1991 is the template that brought in 500 billion.To seal India's advent, The Modi Template needs to result in 5,000 billion of Real Estate wealth in 100 MegaCities.Like China. With Infrastructure Finance that is linked to the resultant values in Real Estate.Not only in Malabar Hills and Vasant Vihar. Read more

Govt. might be taking steps to tame elites but they seems small & incremental. In fractured polity of India Government may not last to be really effective, as rightly pointed out& , established elites have power & resources to wait and hit when & where it hurts most. Many in ruling party itself are comfortable in Delhi cabal.There ought to be some exemplary action against some prominent people to instil fear among elites, which would be far more effective in preventing corruption.As for Gandhis' case, it Dr. Swamy who have been fighting . Govt. seems least interested in using its resources for srengthening case or prompt conclusion.Read more

Hari Ji, Brahmin system was in vogue in yester years! It is not in vogue today! With information in palm of every one of 6.5Bn people now is a new Brahmin! Meaning he has a chance to get into new elite system in tune with the wellness of the world. If people do not adjust every year to disruptive changes, the world will leave them behind. Let us not bring castwe system every hour for debates the way India`s perverted politician do! Read more

Unless you are in denial, our erstwhile First Family was The Fountainhead of Caste Sectarianism - they got away by aligning with Global Sectarian forces. Hence self proclaimed Secular Democracy prevailed so long as The Majority were unable to be galvanized into The Sangha Parivar. Without a shadow of doubt, Three sectarian forces had aligned to achieve marginalization of The Majority. The Gandhi Parivar diehard support was predicated on Caste based Biradari System - replicated subsequently by The Yadav Twins in UP & Bihar. Secular Democracy was an epithet that allowed The Trinity of Sectarian Forces to subvert India's Sovereign Economics into Sectarian Economics - their pockets became paramount to the detriment of The Nation's business management. All the scams - 2G, 3G, Coal-G, CWG - that blatantly damaged India's Sovereign Economics, were byproducts of The Family Biradari System. The reason why India remains light years behind Europe, America, Russia, and now China is not that India does not have Masterminds that can transform - India's 1991 magic can be replicated. But because The Biradari has infested every corner of India's businesses with its appointees - preventing the real flowering of India's prowess. The Sangha Parivar was the only alternative - like Christian Democrats in Europe - that could decimate The Secular Democrats electorally. The Left Front - like Europe's Social Democrats - unable to challenge The Trinity of Sectarian Forces that sustained The Gandhi Family Rule. Unfortunately Religious sectarianism could only be destroyed by neutering the Unholy Trinity with The Sangha. Much like The Church destroyed The Soviet Union and its pernicious Communists - who destroyed Soviet Economics. Read more

@ SubashI know even in the Bhagwat Gita it preaches keeping the caste division...for one's own salvation!Who the hell invented the concept of this high priest in Indian civilization. It must be a (clever) MAN!My experience from long period of study in the subcontinent, as a guest of GOI, is that the so-called high priests don't wish to be questioned on their social hierarchy in society. WHY? Read more

My concern is the social/political impact of Brahmin caste system & its continued relevance to how the subcontinent is ruled today. You want to tame the elite - but not the caste system - if I read you correctly. Methinks unless Modi - coming, as he does, from a low caste - is able and willing to ditch the caste system, Indian elite will continue to rule.... Read more

@Hari NaiduCaste is Portuguese word. Shivaji, the great, 2 generation before was farm hand without title to the land. Kalidas the poet of Raja Bhoj was Macaulay defined "untouchable" by birth. Jati did not decide one's Varna before barbarian coming to loot, plunder , rape and enslave. Land belonged to the whole village and each village contributed young men for soldiery and 12 balutedari. Muslims created their proxies by giving land titles and this degenerated Jati-Varna system into birth based caste system. Shivaji tried to destroy this system, ie why you see dhangar Holkars ruling Indore, landless farm hand Scindia ruling Gwalior and so forth. India needs 40 years of Modi like rule. Read more

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